Much-needed rail improvements in and around Bristol should be fast tracked by the government following its decision to scrap the northern extension of HS2, regional business leaders and politicians have said.
They urged the Department of Transport to fund schemes such as the electrification of the line between Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway, which was abandoned in 2016.
More regular services between Bristol and Cardiff should also brought in as their economies continue to grow while increased commuting over the two Severn bridges has brought home the need for smaller stations between the two cities to help reduce car use.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used his speech at this week’s Conservative Party Conference yesterday to vow that money saved from the cancelled HS2 project between Birmingham and Manchester would be invested into new transport schemes under the heading Network North.
However, these will not just be aimed at improving rail connections across the North but also in other parts of England.
According to the government, this will include upgrades to the line between Birmingham and Bristol to increase services from two to three an hour.
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA), which is responsible for transport across the region, will get a £100m boost which could be used for an extension of MetroWest scheme to the south – covering Weston-super-Mare, Taunton/Exeter, and Worle/Weston-super-Mare Parkway.
It said WECA could also start passenger and capacity enhancements at Temple Meads station and introduce step-free access across the network, while also paying towards electrification between Temple Meads, pictured, Bristol Parkway and Chippenham.
The Western Gateway – the pan-regional partnership that stretches from Swindon to Swansea – welcomed the investment pledge, saying it was in line with its recently published Rail Vision for 2050 report, which calls for a “transformational, deliverable and affordable plan” for connecting-up productive economic centres across South Wales and Western England.
But it said more investment was needed to bring the transport infrastructure across the super-region into the modern era and help with the move to net zero.
Western Gateway Partnership chair Katherine Bennett CBE, pictured, said: “It is great to see that £100m has been announced today to go toward transport in the West of England.
“Completion of electrification between Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway and Chippenham is a scheme at the heart of our Vision and in turn presents the programme capability of extending this to Cardiff and Swansea.
“However, there is so much more we can achieve by connecting the UK’s major economic powerhouses across South Wales and West of England and beyond.
“Our area has huge potential to deliver for the UK, with globally recognised cross-border strengths across aerospace, green energy, cyber and creative sectors.
“By better connecting our communities, we stand ready to deliver an extra £34bn for the UK economy by 2030. I look forward to working with government to see how our solutions can be included as an essential part of the UK’s integrated rail plan.”
Western Gateway Rail steering committee chair Ian Edwards added: “The Western Gateway Rail Vision for 2050 is transformational, halving journey times and connecting communities at risk of being left behind with opportunity, deliverable, building on already agreed schemes, and vital for supporting innovation across the area.
“With an ask of only £1bn-£2bn in the short term to deliver projects, it is also offers extremely good value for money for the UK treasury.
“As a local business leader, I know the vast potential of our communities and call on the government to make a commitment to delivering on the priorities the Western Gateway has outlined.”
